diff --git a/piker/_cacheables.py b/piker/_cacheables.py
index 6746fc2f..9be4d079 100644
--- a/piker/_cacheables.py
+++ b/piker/_cacheables.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # piker: trading gear for hackers
-# Copyright (C) Tyler Goodlet (in stewardship for piker0)
+# Copyright (C) Tyler Goodlet (in stewardship for pikers)
 
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
@@ -14,15 +14,21 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-"""
+'''
 Cacheing apis and toolz.
 
-"""
+'''
 
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from contextlib import (
     asynccontextmanager as acm,
 )
+from typing import (
+    Awaitable,
+    Callable,
+    ParamSpec,
+    TypeVar,
+)
 
 from tractor.trionics import maybe_open_context
 
@@ -32,19 +38,54 @@ from .log import get_logger
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
 
+T = TypeVar("T")
+P = ParamSpec("P")
 
-def async_lifo_cache(maxsize=128):
-    """Async ``cache`` with a LIFO policy.
+
+# TODO: move this to `tractor.trionics`..
+# - egs. to replicate for tests: https://github.com/aio-libs/async-lru#usage
+# - their suite as well:
+#   https://github.com/aio-libs/async-lru/tree/master/tests
+# - asked trio_util about it too:
+#   https://github.com/groove-x/trio-util/issues/21
+def async_lifo_cache(
+    maxsize=128,
+
+    # NOTE: typing style was learned from:
+    # https://stackoverflow.com/a/71132186
+) -> Callable[
+    Callable[P, Awaitable[T]],
+    Callable[
+        Callable[P, Awaitable[T]],
+        Callable[P, Awaitable[T]],
+    ],
+]:
+    '''
+    Async ``cache`` with a LIFO policy.
 
     Implemented my own since no one else seems to have
     a standard. I'll wait for the smarter people to come
     up with one, but until then...
-    """
+
+    NOTE: when decorating, due to this simple/naive implementation, you
+    MUST call the decorator like,
+
+    .. code:: python
+
+        @async_lifo_cache()
+        async def cache_target():
+
+    '''
     cache = OrderedDict()
 
-    def decorator(fn):
+    def decorator(
+        fn: Callable[P, Awaitable[T]],
+    ) -> Callable[P, Awaitable[T]]:
 
-        async def wrapper(*args):
+        async def decorated(
+            *args: P.args,
+            **kwargs: P.kwargs,
+        ) -> T:
             key = args
             try:
                 return cache[key]
@@ -53,15 +94,19 @@ def async_lifo_cache(maxsize=128):
                     # discard last added new entry
                     cache.popitem()
 
-                # do it
-                cache[key] = await fn(*args)
+                # call underlying
+                cache[key] = await fn(
+                    *args,
+                    **kwargs,
+                )
                 return cache[key]
 
-        return wrapper
+        return decorated
 
     return decorator
 
 
+# TODO: move this to `.brokers.utils`..
 @acm
 async def open_cached_client(
     brokername: str,